How to run a forklift rodeo competition

If your company is interested in learning how to run a forklift rodeo competition, please get in touch with Raymond Handling Concepts. We can assist your company with all the materials handling equipment. All participants in the forklift competitions must be authorized to operate forklifts. Call Raymond Handling Concepts for more information at 800-675-2500, or email us at [email protected].

Who participates in forklift rodeos?

United Natural Foods Incorporated (UNFI), a distributor of Organic and Natural foods and products in southwest Washington, held its annual forklift rodeo on October 25, 2014, and Raymond Handling Concepts was invited to be part of the judging team.

Hosting a forklift rodeo can be a fun and a powerful way to improve your operators’ skills. All participants must already have completed their operator training and safety program.

If your company is hosting a forklift rodeo, consider inviting other companies to join your competition. It is normal to charge an entry fee that ranges from $25-$35 per participant. It is also a good idea to have sponsors donate $100-$200 to cover expenses. Publicize your event by posting posters in your facility, local radio ads or via your local Chamber of Commerce mailing lists.

Where do I host a forklift rodeo competition?

When planning a forklift rodeo competition, make sure to choose a location that has plenty of space. The recommended floor space for the competition is 100 feet by 200 feet. Keep in mind additional space will be needed for the check-in and registration. You will also need a place for operators to “warm-up” on a forklift, as well as enough space for spectators to watch the competition from a safe distance. Typically, forklift rodeos are held indoors but can be held outside.

What kinds of forklifts are used for a forklift rodeo?

It is best to have a materials handling company, such as Raymond Handling Concepts, sponsor the rodeo so the same make and models can be provided for all participants, which ensures a fair competition. When RHCC sponsored the UNFI forklift rodeo, the 7000 Series Raymond Reach Truck and 8000 Series Raymond Rider Pallet Truck were used. We recommend that you have one forklift per course, and an additional forklift for the warm-up, and another for the forklift quiz section.

What events are held at a forklift rodeo competition?

At the UNFI forklift rodeo, there were two competition classes in which the Raymond trucks were used. One competition was for the 7000 series Raymond Reach Truck, while the other was for the 8000 series Raymond Rider Pallet Truck. The participants were first required to perform a daily check list inspection on their respective trucks, and find all of the planted issues. Bob Stevens, our Raymond certified technician, was on hand to disable several key functions on each truck. The participants needed to find what was missing. Once through the inspection phase, the participants would navigate a course on a second, fully functioning truck.

The Reach Truck drivers were required to gently pick up a basketball from an orange safety cone, making full use of the Raymond Clear View Mast, then lift and drop the ball through a hoop and return to the start/finish line. If the ball dropped off the forks the driver was disqualified. The operator with the fastest time was the winner.

The Pallet Jack drivers had to navigate a course of pallets tipped up on an edge. When the operator was half way through the course they were required to change direction. Time penalties were given to drivers that touched or knocked down pallets or were not fully in control of the jack. This was a very competitive contest as .two-tenths of a second separated first and second place.

How do you win a forklift competition?

Lowest score wins! Forklift rodeos can have individual and team scores. The scoring is a combination of driving time that is adjusted accordingly for penalties and bonus points. If a participant receives a penalty, time is added to the operator’s score. The operators can make up for time by receiving bonus points, which are awarded for each correct answer in the forklift quiz section. Bonus points subtract time from the operators score.

RHCC donated Raymond Reach-Fork Truck and Rider Pallet Jack Models to be incorporated into trophies for first, second, and third places to correspond with the respective class I, II or III. Class I forklifts are counterbalanced forklifts, class II are narrow aisle forklifts, and class III are pallet jacks.

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